Sweet Tea and Secrets (30 page)

“It’s a night,” she agreed. The adrenaline and spunky battle had burned off the edgy anxiety that had niggled constantly at her since she got the news about Pearl.

***

The next morning, Garrett hadn’t been gone ten minutes when Jill heard the sound of a vehicle coming up the lane. She glanced out the window and saw Macy step out of the limo carrying a huge basket wrapped in colorful cellophane.

Jill went outside on the front porch. “Now that’s a delivery in style,” she said.

“You got that right.” Macy met Jill at the steps and handed her the basket. “Amazing what people will pay you to do these days.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Sure is, and heavy. I gotta’ run. I’m doing a make-up thing at the B&B today.”

Jill took the basket from Macy. “You’re not kidding. This sucker is heavy. Well, thanks.” Jill carried the basket inside and set it on the dining room table. The cellophane crinkled as she slid it back to reveal apples in all colors, oranges, grapes and bananas. She plucked one of the perfect red apples from the pile, and, out of habit, rubbed it on her shirt. It didn’t need shining. The apple was already so glossy that she could almost see herself in it. She bit into it, and caught the juice running down her chin with her hand. It was way too early in the season to be a locally grown apple, but this one was good just the same.

Jill tugged the card from the center of the fruit display. As she read the note, she dropped the apple and it rolled across the floor.

Clyde pounced on it and ran off with it in his mouth, his tail wagging.

Jill lunged for her cell phone, banging into the edge of the dining room table in the process. She screamed at the impact, but more out of surprise than pain. Her heart pounded erratically. She pushed speed dial for Carolanne.

“Answer, answer. Please answer,” she pleaded.

Carolanne finally answered.

“Thank God, you’re there.”

“Jill? Is that you. What’s the matter?”

“I just got the oddest card.”

“From who?”

“I don’t know. That’s just it. No signature. You lose. The card didn’t....” Her voice rose an octave. “It just said that.”

“Slow down. I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me. Take a breath.” Carolanne spoke slowly. “Now, what kind of card? What did it say that upset you?”

Jill grunted. “It could have been Bradley. It just says, ‘
You Lose
’ in this real crappy handwriting. Don’t you think that’s weird?”

“Did it come in the mail? Is there a postmark?”

“It was on a fruit basket that was just delivered.”

“Well, your grandmother did just die. Maybe it was a computer glitch, and it was supposed to say ‘Sorry for your loss,’” Carolanne reasoned. “Call and see if they can tell you who ordered the fruit basket.”

“It
is
a sympathy card. You know, one of those pre-printed business-card-size kind. With deepest sympathy, but then—‘
You Lose.
’” She stammered a little. “Bradley’s really ticked about the restraining order. He called yesterday and threatened to hurt Garrett if I don’t come back to Savannah.”

“That was probably right after I talked to him. I pushed a few of his buttons. That’s why we have the restraining order, and I took the liberty of calling Scott Calvin to give him a heads up, too.”

“Thanks, but I can only imagine how mad he’d be if he knew how much time Garrett’s been spending around here. He’d come completely unglued.”

“I’d keep that quiet if I were you. But logistically, I don’t think Bradley could get a delivery on your doorstep this quick. Not in Adams Grove, anyway. Hardy just doesn’t work that fast, and I’m not sure he would even do a fruit basket. Not his gig.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“A fruit basket isn’t usually a threat. Well, unless you’re Snow White and you piss off the wicked witch.”

“Real funny.” Jill mindlessly scratched the nail polish off her finger and let out a heavy sigh. “What if it was from Bradley, and he does something crazy? I’d die if anything happened to Garrett because of me.”

“You didn’t tell Garrett?”

“I didn’t want him to worry.”

“Well, you need to let him know. I don’t think that basket means anything, but Bradley was pretty mad when I talked to him yesterday. I hate to rub it in, but the last time you didn’t talk things through with Garrett, it didn’t work out so well for you. I don’t think you should keep this from him.”

She knew Carolanne was right, but she didn’t want to upset Garrett either. Bradley was such a sore subject. “Why does everything have to be so complicated?”

“Do you want me to come back and stay with you for a few days?”

“There’s nothing you can do.”

“I have vacation time. Sometimes having a friend around helps, I want to be there for you.”

“I feel like everything’s falling apart around me,” Jill admitted.

“I’m coming. Don’t argue with me.”

Carolanne would be a comfort. Jill took another apple out of the basket. Clyde trotted back in the room, thinking he might get to play catch with this one, too.

“I’ll be there tomorrow. Hang tight, girl.”

“Thanks.” Relieved just knowing she wouldn’t have to deal with this alone, Jill tucked the card in the back pocket of her jeans. Clyde carried his apple in his mouth, and Jill took him out to the front yard. She ate her apple while Clyde gnawed on his, slobbering the whole time.

Like clockwork, Garrett pulled his truck up to the front of the house.

Jill’s pulse quickened.

He stepped out of the truck with smoothies from Penny’s in each hand. “Perfect for the hot day,” Garrett said, holding them in front of him.

Guilt stabbed her heart for not telling Garrett, but she couldn’t come up with an easy way to start, so she accepted a smoothie with a smile and sipped through the tall striped straw to keep the conversation to a minimum.

“Strawberry,” he grinned. “Your favorite.”

“My hero,” she exaggerated.

“You’re easy.”

“Oh, that’s just a nasty rumor.”

“Darn. I had my hopes up.”

She sucked on the straw, and gave him a flirty wink. “You never used to give up so easy.”

“You’re in a great mood this afternoon.”

“I just talked to Carolanne. She’s going to come back for a few days.”

“She can stay at my place,” he offered.

“She can stay here.”

“You kickin’ me out?”

“Well…”

Garrett put his arm across Jill’s shoulder. “I don’t think so. Besides, you know how Carolanne stays up to all hours of the night. She’d be more comfortable at my place, not tippy-toeing around you sleeping.”

They walked inside. “Hey, who sent the fruit basket?” Garrett asked.

Jill hesitated, then the white lie rolled right off her lips. “No signature. Take it to your place, for Carolanne. I’d only eat the apples anyway. The rest of the fruit would go bad.” She’d be glad to get the basket out of her sight. No sense putting more pressure on Garrett to protect her with one more incident that might just be her overactive imagination. If he’d sleep in her yard for a week, what would he do next? Set up an armed guard? A cannon? Dig a moat?

“So you’re
not
kicking me out.”

“Guess not.” She planted a kiss on his cheek. “Carolanne and I will be together all day, and you’re right. She does like her alone time. Maybe she’ll realize how much she loves this town and move back. I hate having her so far off in New York.”

“Good plan. I can share. I’ll share you and the fruit basket with her. You’d just make me eat all the bananas anyway.”

That was true. Jill hated bananas. She got queasy just thinking about them.

“I’ll run it over to the house. I have to pick up the paint sprayer and get it back over to the shop for the guys. They’ll need it in the morning. Then, I’ll stop by and pick you up. We’ll go out for supper tonight.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be ready.”

He left and she got ready, then called the office to straighten out the misprints from the articles on the Foundation event. Josh answered after the second ring.

“Josh. It’s Jill. I’m so glad you answered the phone. Is Bradley around?”

“Hey. He hasn’t been around since I got back from vacation, but he did just call and boy was he in a mood. It’s been like a tomb around here until this morning. When will you be back?”

She loved that job, and Josh had been such a trooper over the past year. She’d miss them both, but not Bradley. “I won’t be coming back. Long story, and I’m not sure if I quit or got fired, but there were a couple things I wanted to be sure to straighten out.”

“No wonder Bradley was in a mood. You’re the only reason I stay on here. You can color me gone if you’re not coming back. No offense, but your boyfriend is an ass.”

Now you say something
.
I must’ve been the only one who hadn’t noticed before.
“Oh, Josh, don’t do something hasty. It’s a good job. That aside, the kids benefit from our dedication. It’s work to be proud of.”

“Bradley was totally pissed about the account you set up. That’s what he called about earlier. He was at the bank, and he didn’t know we couldn’t move that money without your signature.”

“I told him I was setting up that account since those funds were earmarked for certain projects in our campaign. Sorry if he blasted you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t sweat it. I’m here for the paycheck. He doesn’t bother me. So, what did you need?”

“The newspaper misprinted our numbers.”

“I know. Tried to take care of that the other day. Got the slam down from your boyfriend on that, too.”

“He’s not my boyfriend anymore either.”

“Sorry. Got the slam down from Bradley. He gave the newspaper those numbers. He said it had nothing to do with balancing the books. That the misreported numbers were all about marketing. Saying we didn’t meet our goal may bring in more donations.”

A feeling of dread swirled in the pit of her stomach. Melanie’s mention of dodgy business deals came to mind. Jill sure hoped he wasn’t going to put the Kase Foundation’s good work at risk.

Clyde barked from the back yard, but his bark sounded different this time. More urgent. Instinct drew her toward the back door. The heavy smell of smoke seeped into the room.

Smoke poured out of the woods.

“Oh my God! Josh. There’s a fire. I’ll call you later.” She threw open the door and screamed for Clyde. “Come here, boy.”

She dialed 911, but Clyde ignored her and continued running along the back fence, barking.

On the third ring, she reached the dispatcher and gave him her address.

She ran outside to get Clyde, but he wouldn’t follow her back to the house. The smoke thickened and Jill struggled to catch a clean breath. Soot and ash wafted in the air. She ran back inside and watched from the window over the kitchen sink.

A loud whoosh seemed to shake the house, and the first flame tickled the sky. The woods were dense, and the leaves, crispy from the summer sun, coupled with lack of rain, would fuel the fire. She prayed the fire truck would get here fast.

She grabbed her phone and punched in Garrett’s cell number. No answer.

Clyde still raced up and down the fence, barking like there was no tomorrow. Jill opened the back door, put her fingers in her mouth and whistled. She hadn’t tried that in forever, but it worked.

Clyde limped her way, and sat on his haunches anxiously shifting his weight from paw to paw.

She stooped next to him and lifted his left paw. He whimpered. The pad was red and oozing. Clyde must have stepped on a cinder.

Jill urged Clyde to the front yard where they could get farther from the danger of the fire and wait for the fire truck. Time slinked by as she waited for assistance, watching helplessly as the fire gained strength. She checked her watch. Barely two minutes had passed.

She dialed Garrett’s number again. Still no answer.